Strain Theories Flashcards
What is the consensus perspective on crime and social structure?
VS
What is the conflict perspective on crime and social structure?
Consensus perspective:
- most people share similar values -morality is universal
- customs persist
- the law represents a codification of societal values
Conflict perspective:
- criminal law reflects the interests of the powerful groups that create and enforce those laws
What are 4 consensus theories of crime in terms of societal strains?
- Emilie Durkheim:
- social cohesion
- anomie - Robert Merton:
- social structure strain - Coward & Ohlin:
- opportunity structures - Messner & Rosendeld:
- institutional anomie theory
- crime indirect consequence of dominance in economy
Who was Emilie Durkheim?
What is anomie?
Structuralism grew out of work
Influenced by positivism:
the application of science to study societal problems
Studied suicide rates in Europe and concluded social causation:
- lack of social integration
- lack of moral regulation
Anomie:
- social instability resulting from a breakdown of societal standards and values
-post-industrial society
- individualism
- the separation of the individual from society
-anomie occurs both at societal and individual level
Anomie can occur at both the “_______” and “________” level
Societal; individual
Who was Robert Merton?
Believed crime is a symptom of the gap between culturally prescribed aspirations and the socially structured means for realizing them (aims versus means)
Commitment to the goal of material success
Pursued by everyone
Under conditions of individualism and competition
Differential opportunity for success—> anomie (there is STRAIN)
What is the #1 cited sociological theory?
Social structure strain
AKA
Strain Theory
Robert Merton
What was the the significance of the example Starboy by the Weekend shown in class?
Shows him “living the good life”
= theres only one good life
= he made it, materially
= “made your whole year in a week yeah”
= “pockets over weight getting hefty yeah”
= “house so empty need a center piece”
= “bought my momma a crib and a brand new wagon”
= plaitinum album record
= multiple expensive cars
We can look at this example in terms of strain theory - Robert Merton
= there is only “one good life”
The paradigm of deviant behavior…
Conformity —>
Innovation —>
Ritualism —>
Retreatism —>
Rebellion —>
Explain all of these in terms of their attitude to goals and means (whether they accept/reject)
Give an example for each as well
Conformity —>
attitude to goals (accept), attitude to means (accept)
- Typically, we, in this room are in this category, go to uni and try to make life for self
Innovation —>
attitude to goals (accept), attitude to means (reject)
- Want the goal, don’t wanna do the work to get it
Ex. Stealing instead = “innovator”
Ritualism —>
attitude to goals (reject), attitude to means (accept)
- Someone who goes to work everyday “ritual” to everyday life, but they live modestly
Retreatism —>
attitude to goals (reject), attitude to means (reject)
- Secondary group of criminals, they “retreat” = drug use
- Don’t want big life or try for anything
Rebellion —>
attitude to goals (reject/accept), attitude to means (reject/accept)
- Don’t want big life either, might live in a hippie group or religious group
Who were Cloward and Ohlin?
Opportunity structures
Why do individuals adapt to strain in different ways?
-opportunity structures
-social structure of illegitimate means
Differential illegitimate opportunity:
- some poor people lack both legitimate means AND illegitimate means
= (criminal gang) to achieve goals
= so they have double failures and may resolve to become drug users, sex sellers
Who was Robert Agnew?
(HINT: revamped social structure strain)
General strain theory
Argued that the OTHER Robert (Merton) was too focused on economy as only
source of strain
He thought that everyday strains could make us criminal
Strain results from different sources:
1. being blocked from any positively valued goal
Ex. Not making the football team…
= might go to sabotage the change room (crime)
2. actual or anticipated loss of something
valuable
Ex. I don’t have date to prom, so I cant go
= might go put lots alcohol in punch (crime)
3. actual or anticipated presentation of noxious stimuli
Ex. Getting bullied/beat up
= end up assaulting them (crime)
According to Robert Agnew’s general starin theory…
What are four strains that make crime most likely to develop?
Give example for each
(1) Strain seen as unjust;
Ex. WHY? I’m the best football player, coach just doesn’t like me = more likely to rebel
(2) Strain is high in magnitude;
Ex. I hope I make 4th line even if I am the “bench warmer”
= LESS STRESSED than someone who needs the team for a scholarship
(3) Strain is associated with low social control; and,
Ex. Poor relationship w/ parents or teachers
= no support for when you “don’t make team” = adds MORE STRAIN
(4) Strain creates incentive/pressure to engage in criminal coping
Ex. If I beat you up = you wont bully me anymore (in theory)
Who were Messner & Rosenfeld?
Institutional anomie
They also believed that Robert Merton was too narrowly focused on the economy
The economy impacts many other institutions:
- family, school system, political system
- argue this also forces to set children up for the “working economy & importance of money/materialism”
These secondary institutions directly regulate societal norms
Believed that institutional balance of power is tilted toward the economy
- the economic gains of capitalism = “hurt this good life”
Why is confronting crime an American challenge according to Elliott Currie?
Because of American exceptionalism
High crime rate = owing to high levels of inequality
Inequality impacts = ALL societal institutions
Extreme deprivation in US caused by:
-America’s brand of the market-economy
-withdrawal of funding for public provision programs
America is unique in this situation
It has hybrid “capitalism”
Everyone is working to make money…
= but this is NOT equal
= ex. School underfunded and they might need “bulletproofed vests”
What are some other reasons as to why the economy dominance AKA American exceptionalism fosters high crime rates?
Growth of extreme inequality/material deprivation
Progressive destruction of livelihood
Retraction in financial support for families/children
Erosion of informal networks of care
The spread of ‘hard culture’
Marketing of violence-e.g., media and guns
The weakening of social/political alternatives
What is “hard culture” and the “code on the streets” according to Elijah Anderson?
“why is it that so many inner-city young people are inclined to commit aggression and violence toward one another?
Because of the violent ‘code’ of the streets:
= the code: the willingness to use violence
= ’the code’ governs choices young people make in their daily lives
Most families struggle to be ‘decent’
Youths from ‘street families’ grow up in dysfunctional homes
Weakly bonded to conventional institutions
Weakly bonded to families
Ineffective parenting; neglect; abuse, angry
Little hope for future; little self-respect
Work for ‘respect’ on the streets largely through ‘nerve’
Exacerbated by lack of trust in conventional institutions
e.g., the police
